People Professor Helen McShane

Professor of Vaccinology, University of Oxford, and Oxford Martin School Senior Fellow, Oxford Martin School

Professor of Vaccinology and Wellcome Senior Fellow

Helen McShane was a Principal Investigator in the Oxford Martin Programme on Vaccines, which was part of the Oxford Martin School from 2010-2015. She remains connected with the School through her role as an Oxford Martin Senior Fellow.

Helen McShane has extensive experience in TB immunology and vaccinology. She is Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford; Wellcome Senior Clinical Research Fellow; Honorary Consultant physician in HIV medicine; and an Academic Foundation Programme Lead. She also chairs the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative Advisory Committee.

Helen obtained an intercalated BSc in 1988, followed by a degree in medicine in 1991 (both University of London). In 1997 She was awarded an MRC Clinical Training Fellowship to undertake a PhD with Adrian Hill in Oxford, and was later awarded a PhD in 2001 (University of London). In 2001 she was awarded a Wellcome Clinician Scientist Fellowship, allowing her to complete her clinical training and subsequently awarded a CCST in HIV and GU Medicine in 2003. In 2005, she was awarded a Wellcome Senior Clinical Research Fellowship; this Fellowship was renewed in 2010.

Helen has led the TB vaccine research group at the University of Oxford for 14 years and notably headed the development of MVA85A; one of the most clinically advanced new TB vaccine candidates and the first to enter human efficacy testing. She collaborates with several research groups in Africa in the conduct of clinical trials and current interests are in immunomonitoring in clinical trials, the development of human mycobacterial challenge models and aerosol delivery of vaccines. Helen has published over 100 peer reviewed publications and has an H-index of 39.

Oxford Martin School

Professor of Vaccinology, University of Oxford, and Oxford Martin School Senior Fellow